To a remark he made about the
time, she vouchsafed no answer.
"Have you been with Ida all the evening?" he asked.
"No, I haven't," was her reply.
She went into the bed-room, and was absent for a few minutes, then
reappeared.
"Do you know where my silver spoon is?" she asked, looking closely
at him.
"Your silver spoon?" he returned, in surprise. "Have you lost it?"
The article in question, together with a fork, hod been a
wedding-present from Mrs. Sprowl, whose character had in it a sort
of vulgar generosity, displayed at times in gifts to Harriet.
"I can't find it," Harriet said. "I was showing it to Ida Starr when
she was here on Sunday, and now I come to look for it, it's gone."
"Oh, it can't be very far off," said Julian. "You'll find it if you
look."
"But I tell you I've looked everywhere. It's gone, that's all I
know."
"Well, but--what do you mean? How can it have gone?"
"I don't know. I only know I was showing it her on Sunday."
"And what connection is there between the two things?" asked Julian,
almost sternly. "You don't wish me to understand that Ida Starr
knows anything about the spoon?"
"How can I tell? It's gone."
"Come," exclaimed Julian, with a laugh, "this is too absurd,
Harriet! You must have taken leave of your senses.
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